The Strange Ones, by Jeremy Jusay

Picture this: Autumn in New York City circa early 1990s. The time of Grunge Music, mosh pits, flannel, and teen spirit (which really does have a smell, albeit not a pleasant one). This is the setup for The Strange Ones, a graphic novel by Jeremy Jusay.

Shy, lonely Angeline is a misfit--even amongst misfits. No one really "gets" her. Not her family, not her friends...if she had friends. She feels completely alone in the world until she meets Franck, another misfit who she always sees riding the subway. The two strike up an unlikely friendship and begin exploring the city together, visiting places both hidden and touristy, eating cheap diner food and discussing music and buttons and life in general. And as the weeks pass, they each find in each other the things that had been missing from their lives. 

I'll say this is now: This is NOT a romantic love story. 

So don't expect the perfect cheesy rom-com ending. This story is neither Rom nor Com. Nope, Angeline and Franck's relationship is strictly that of the friendship variety and never progresses beyond that. That said, The Strange Ones is simply a wonderful friendship story about the best sort of friends. About breaking out of your shell. About trusting so you CAN love again. And there will be many, many feels. So grab your tissues. 

No more spoilers, though.

--AJB